ITEMS DVD Descriptions


Julius Caesar
SHA DVD0360

Opposed to the growing power of Julius Caesar, and the fear that Caesar poses a threat to the liberty of Rome, several Senators led by Cassius and Casca conspire to assasinate him. They convince the moderate Brutus to join them and murder Caesar in a bloody massacre on the steps of the Senate. In his funeral oration in the Forum, Caesar's friend and admirer Mark Antony berates the assassins and incites the Roman people to seek out the conpirators and bring them to justice. WIth the help of Octavius Caesar, Antony avenges Caesar's death in a final battle between his troops and those of Brutus and Cassius. DVD


Richard III
SHA DVD0361

Shakespeare's immortal tale of ambition, lust and murdeous treachery is brilliantly updated and brought to life in this riveting, 20th-century masterpiece. Boasting breathtaknig performances, unforgettable imager and two Oscar nominations, this astounding war time spectcale is "mesmerizing..it will rivet you and shock you" (Jeffrey Lyons, "Sneak Previews"). In 1930s Britain, a savage civil war between two royal families has just concluded. But even as the newly installed King Edward (John Wood) takes the reins of power, his ruthless younger brother Richard (Ian McKellen) sets in motion a monstrous scheme to claim the crown for himself. Enlisting the aid of equally duplicitius allies in the court, Richard embarks on a merciless, single=minded campaign of betrayal, seduction and cold-blooded murder to achieve the goal that has obsessed him all of his tortured life: to be king... at any price. DVD/Widescreen/1 hour 44 minutes/Rated R/French & English Subtitles/Color


King Lear
SHA DVD0364

Using Shakespeare's King Lear as a dramatic laboratory, this program explores how meaning, even within the same scene, can be changed by performers, director, space, audience, design, cultural background, type of performance, and editing. The program blends live performances captured by the camera; performances directed specifically for the camera; rehearsals and workshops recorded as the happened; and interviews of the cast. The scenes presented map the arc of the play, from the declaration in Act 1 to Lear's death in Act V. With in-depth footage of productions and workshops directed by Fiona Shaw, this program is a great tool in any drama classroom. 2 DISC DVD/COLOR/ 3 hours


Twelfth Night - Kenneth Branaghs
SHA DVD0365

The acclaimed Kenneth Branagh production for the Renaissance Theatre Company of Shakespeare's lyrical play, classed as a comedy because order is restored, evil punished, and all who deserve it live happily ever after. The exemplary cast includes Richard Briers as Malvolio, Frances Barber as Viola, Caroline Langrishe as Olivia, Christopher Ravenscroft as Orsino, and James Saxon as Sir Toby Belch. Music, being the food of love, is a major element of the play. The original music for this production is by Paul McCartney and Pat Doyle. 2 DISC DVD/COLOR/157 MIN


Slings & Arrows
SHA DVD0324

This darkly comic Canadian series follows the fortunes of a dysfunctional Shakespearean theatre troupe, exposing the high drama, scorching battles, and electrifying thrills that happen behind the scenes. 18 episodes/Approx. 14 hours plus bonus features/Color/Stereo Contains strong coarse language and sexual situations


In Search of Shakespeare
SHA DVD0358

He is the most famous of Englishmen, and yet our biographical knowledge of William Shakespeare has always been scant. Now Michael Wood-with the help of the Royal Shakespeare Company and many other insightful experts- unravels the mysteries, to tell the story of the great bard. His times: He lived through the Spanish Armada, the Gunpowder Plot, the colonization of the New World and England's Cultural Revolution. His politics: In Elizabeth I's police state the bitter Catholic-Protestant feud dogs his life. His youth: His father's ruin forces the 14 year-old to leave grammar school and go to work. His loves: A father at 18, an infatuation with an aristocratic teenage boy and a passionate sexual affair with a married dark-skinned musician. His lost years': What turned Shakespeare from an efficient jobbing playwright into the best writer anyone had ever seen? His career: How he left the Queen's Men to make his fortune in London, established the Globe and made his name "for all time". His plays: From inn courtyard to royal court- what his plays meant to his actors, his audience and his wallet. DVD/240 minutes/color


Shakespeare in Love
SHA DVD0359

Triumphant winner of 7 Academy Awards- including Best Picture- this witty, sexy smash features Oscar- winning Best Actress Gwyneth Paltrow (SLiding Doors, A Perfect Murder) and an amazing cast that includes Academy Award winners Judi Dench (Best Supporting Actress), Geoffrey Rush (Best Actor-Shine) and Ben Affleck (Armageddon; Best Original Screenplay- Good Will Hunting)! When Will Shakespeare (Joseph Fiennes-Elizabeth) needs passionate inspiration to break a bad case of writer's block, a secret romance with the beautiful Lady Viola (Paltrow) starts the words flowing like never before! There are just two things he'll have to learn about his new love: not only is she promised to mary someone else, she's successfully impersonating a man in order to play the lead in Will's latest production! A truly can't-miss motion picture event with outstanding critical acclaim to match its impressive collection of major awards- everyone will love this funny behind-the-scenes look at the writing of the greatest love story ever told. DVD/122 minutes/ Color/ Digitally Mastered.